As police probe allegations that Bellamy was at the centre of a racial bust-up outside a Cardiff nightclub, Shepherd said: "Nothing will get in the way of success at this club."

South Wales Police confirmed today they were investigating an incident involving alleged racist and verbal abuse.

A source said they are keen to speak to Bellamy after abuse was hurled at a club doorman.

Bellamy is in the Welsh capital preparing for his country's Euro 2004 clashes against Azerbaijan and Serbia and Montenegro and was said to be involved in the fracas.

But today the father of tragic Toon fan, the late Indie Singh, who Bellamy befriended when the 14-year-old was battling kidney failure, today leapt to the defence of the star.

Indie of Rickleton, Washington, was diagnosed with severe kidney problems at birth and spent much of his short life in and out of hospital.

Bellamy paid regular visits to Newcastle's RVI to help keep Indie's spirits up while he endured two kidney transplants, which failed.

The #35,000-a-week player was so touched by Indie's spirit that he gave him his shirt after scoring two goals against Aston Villa in a 3-0 win.

Today Indie's dad, Bal, said: "There's no way he's a racist. I speak to him every week on the phone and he always waves to me and my family in the stand before every game.

"I haven't got a bad word to say against him. He's such a caring bloke.

"He might go out and have a drink every now and then but he's only human and he's got to have a life. Maybe he has been singled out and picked on because he's a famous footballer."

Bellamy became embroiled in an argument in Cardiff's Millennium Plaza just hours before he was due to meet up with his Welsh colleagues at the city's Vale of Glamorgan Country Club.

He was ejected from Jongleurs nightclub after midnight after, it is alleged a row broke out at the bar and staff and customers were sworn at.

Bellamy was then driven by his father Doug the 317 miles back to Tyneside - only to leave again just hours later.

Bellamy's mum, Angela, said: "It was completely unprovoked and Craig was very upset by it. He's not injured and he should be able to play, but he was very shocked and upset.

"People may love him or hate him, but he is just a young man and it is sad that he can't go out without this sort of incident. He is always being picked on."

A Jongleurs spokesman said: "There was an incident and someone was asked to leave, although I cannot confirm if it was Craig Bellamy.

"A man was asked to leave as he was being verbally abusive to customers and staff. The security team were involved in ensuring he left the premises."

Earlier in the evening, Bellamy was allegedly drinking in the nearby Jumpin' Jaks bar. Manager Jon Brett said: "Craig left without incident and returned an hour later, but was not allowed in as we were about to close. He was upset about being refused entry."

A South Wales police spokesman said: "We are investigating after a man was allegedly racially and verbally abused at the Millennium Plaza."

Page 2: Be warned Bellamy....

Be warned Bellamy

Craig Bellamy has been warned by Newcastle United that his off-the-field behaviour will not be allowed to stand in the way of their success on it.

United were dismayed to find that Bellamy was in the news for all the wrong reasons again today - something that was revealed in the later editions of the Chronicle last night.

Bellamy is facing a police probe after an alleged racist incident at a Cardiff night club in the early hours of yesterday morning.

But chairman Freddy Shepherd insisted today: "Craig Bellamy is no racist. There is absolutely no doubt about that. He may be a rascal but he is certainly no racist."

And the last thing United want is any talk of racism just when Jonathan Woodgate is showing such exemplary behaviour both on and off the field after his well-documented problems.

However, United and Shepherd are losing patience at Bellamy's behaviour which gets both the Welsh international and the club headlines they do not want.

And there was a feeling at St James's Park today that Bellamy is not too far away from his final warning at a time when his performances on the field are nothing short of superb.

Indeed, Shepherd added: "Obviously at this stage we do not know all the facts and until we do we do not want to say too much.

"But when we do have the full facts at our disposal we will hold our own investigation.

"And what I will say is that we will not let Craig Bellamy - or any other player for that matter - ruin all the great work Sir Bobby Robson and his boys are doing on the field with anything they might do off it."

Bellamy has already been hauled over the coals by Robson after the player unexpectedly turned up at the club's training ground yesterday morning.

Bellamy and Welsh skipper Gary Speed motored down to Wales after United's 5-1 drubbing of Blackburn on Saturday to prepare for the European Championship qualifiers with Azerbaijan in Cardiff on Saturday and against Serbia-Montenegro in Belgrade a week tomorrow. Bellamy was involved in an incident in the Jongleurs nightclub, after which the racist allegations were then made.

Bellamy returned to the five-star team hotel on the outskirts of Cardiff and confronted Welsh team manager Mark Hughes at 3.15 in the morning.

As a result, Bellamy's dad Doug drove him back to Tyneside and he turned up at an almost deserted United training ground yesterday morning.

My information is that a contrite Bellamy said that he was sorry for the incident but this did not stop Robson from giving the striker a rollicking before telling him to get back to Wales.

After missing yesterday's session, Bellamy was due to get back on to the training field today.